Holder for shank button

ABSTRACT

A holder for articles such as shank buttons and the like to be attached to a material such as a fabric has a body member provided with walls defining a recess. This recess is arranged for receiving an article, and cooperates with a needle of an associated sewing machine for sewing the button to a material arranged between the recess and needle, such that the button is sewed to the underside of the material. A block member and a holding member are combined with the body member to form a holder which is adjustable for different size buttons and the like.

United States Patent 1 1 1 1 8 Miscevic 1 Jan. 8, 1974 1 HOLDER FOR SHANK BUTTON 2,994,289 8/1961 Halbreich 112/109 2 9 11 108 [75] Inventor:- Daniel V.Miscevic, M1am1, Fla. 112114 73 Assignee: Martinv Gopman, i i Fl 3 3,033,137 5/1962 Ress 112/114 part interest 2,781,734 I 2/1957 Maxant et al 112/114 22 Filed: Sept. 29, 1972 gg g i er geo. v ki [21] Appl 295,988 Attorney-Clarence A. OBrienTLTIEWYBI Jacob son 52 Us. c1. 112/114 57 ABSTRACT [51] Cl fip-ohlgg A holder for articles such as shank buttons and the F .LT.LII"'.:.ilIL""fZ'. 112, 1044 15 like to be attached to a material such as a fabric has a body member provided with walls defining a recess. [56] References cued This recess is arranged for receiving an article, and co- UNTED STATES PATENTS 1 operates with a needle of an associated sewing ma- 2,90 0,935 8/1895 Byers 112/109 chine for sewing the button to a material arranged be- 2,630,087' 3/1953 j 1.16m etal.-'..- Rl8,961 10 1933 Rich 2,726,613 12/1955 3,163,135 12/1964 3,099,971 8/1963 Schwartzetal. ..112/114 tween the recess and needle, such that the button is sewed to the underside of the material. A block member and a holding member are combined with the body member to form a holder which is adjustable for different size buttons and the like.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 HOLDER FOR SHANK BUTTON BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional shank buttonho lders are generally designed to attach to an associated sewing machine in the manner of a presser foot, and press against the uppermost surface of the material while holding the button adjacent the material and transversely to the longitudinal extent of the holder. However, the machine operators frequently will not use the holder. Instead, they, for example, press the button against the material with a finger. This, of course, is dangerous in that the operator may suffer a slashed finger from accidental engagement with the machine needle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a holder for shank buttons and the like which will eliminate the danger encountered with the known buttonholders by preventing operators from using a finger or fingers to hold a button orthe like in position for sewing to a material. 7

Thisand other'objects areachieved according to the present invention by providing a holder having a body member provided with walls'defining a recess in a portion of the body member for receiving an article such as a shank button and the like and cooperating with a needle of an associated sewing machine for attaching the article to a material arranged between the recess and needle. I

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the recess is partially formed by an article retaining member arranged in a plane perpendicular to the plane of a longitudinal extent of the needle during the needles cooperation with the recess. A groove is advantageously provided in a portion of the body member different from the portion of the recess, and a block member slidably arranged in the groove. A holding member provided with a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel arms, spaced from one another a distance sufficient to slidably receive therebetween a portion of the block member extending from the groove, completes the holder unit. The holdingmember, block member, andbody'member are thus adjustable with respect to one another. The holding member further has a portion connected to the arms and extending transversely to a plane thereof for forming an adjustable wall for the recess. Accordingly, proper adjustment of the various elements will permit various sizes of shank buttons and the like to be used with a single holder.

Shank buttons and the like are attached to an associated material, such as a fabric and the like, by placing an article in the recess provided in an article holder according to the present invention. The holder is situated on an associated sewing machine with the recess arranged adjacent the machine's needle. The material is then arranged between the holder and the needle, and

the article is sewed to the material by actuating the machines needle. The associated sewing machine is pro-v vide'd with a conventional presser foot which presses the material against the holder.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic, side elevational view, showing a button sewing machine provided with a buttonholder according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing an embodiment of a buttonholder according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2, together with a fragment of material to which a button is to be sewn and elements of an associated sewing machine.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the holder of FIGS. 2 to 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 7 FIG. 1 of the drawings shows a holder 10 according to the present invention, for holding articles such as a shank button 12.to be attached to a suitable material.

known button sewing machine 16 provided with a sewing needle 18 and a presser foot 20. Since machine 16 is of a conventional .type commonly used in the art, it will not be described in detail herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 5 of the drawings, holder 10 includes a body member 22 having walls 24 defining a recess 26 in a portion 28 thereof. This recess 26 receives, for example, a shank button 12 to be attached toa material 30 (FIG. 4), and cooperates with needle 18' for attaching button 12 to material 30. As can be best appreciated from FIG. 4, material 30 is arranged between recess 26 of holder 10 and needle 18. Recess 26 is partially formed by an article retaining member 32 arranged in a plane perpendicular to the plane of a longitudinal extent of needle 18 during the cooperation of needle 18 with recess 26.

A groove34 is provided in a portion 36 (FIG. 3) of body member 22 which is spaced from portion 28. A block member 38 is slidably arranged in groove 34 for permitting one adjustment of holder 10, as will be described in more detail below.

' A holding member 40 is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel arms 42, 44 spaced from one another a distance sufficient to slidably receive therebetween 'a portion of block member 38 extending from groove 34. Holding member 40 also has a portion 46 connected to arms 42, 44 and extending transversely to a plane thereof. This portion 46 is dimensioned to form an adjustable wall for recess 26. Thus, a further adjustment is provided for holder 10.

In order to retain body member 12 in a predetermined position with respect to blockmember 38, a slot 48 is provided in member 22 and a, for example, threaded bore 50 in member 38. A, for example, screw 52-may be passed through slot 48 into bore 50 for selectively clamping member 22 to member 38. This provides a horizontal adjustment of members 22 and 38.

For further adjustment, a screw 54 may be threadedly engaged in a bore 56. A notch 58 provided in an extension 60 of member 22 receives screw 54 and permits selective adjustment of member 22 with respect to member 38. Thus, members 22 and 38 may be arranged in a selected relationship with respect to one another and held there by tightening down screw 52.

As can be best seen from FIG. 4 of the drawings, button 12 has a head 62, and a shank 64 provided with an eye or hole 66. The arrangement of recess 26 and member 32 permits needle 18 to pass through the window portion of recess 26 and cooperate with a bobbin (not shown) provided in table 14 of machine 16 as is conventional. Holder according to the present invention permits better and tighter stitches, the use of only one foot by the operator since the holder 10 stays stationary and only the machine 16 is actuated, higher production with increased quality, and an increased number of sizes and style of shank buttons 12 to be employed due to easy adjustment of the device.

To set up a holder 10 on a machine 16, member 38 is fastened to a conventional part of machine 16 designated a button clamp feed plate" (not shown) as by groove 68 and a screw (not shown). Screw 54 may now be engaged in bore 56, and member 22 placed over member 38. Screw 52 is passed through slot 48 and into bore 50. Member 40 slides about the lower portion of member 38 as from the left in FIG. 4. A button 12 is placed into recess 26 and member 40 adjusted to the left or right for the particular size of button. Once adjusted, screw 52 may be tightened down slightly. The button clamp feed plate together with the partly assembled holder 10 may be now arranged on a table 14 of a machine 16. The manner of attaching the feed plate is conventional and will not be described in detail herein. In order to adjust holder 10 vertically, the operator steps on a pedal (not shown) of machine 16 and turns the pulley (not shown) of same by hand until needle 18 is centered with the hole 66 of shank 64. The feed plate may now be tightened down further with respect to table 14. To adjust the stroke of needle 18 in a vertical plane, screw 54 is turned in or out to move member 22 horizontally to the left or right as seen in FIG. 4. When holder 10 is adjusted in the vertical plane, screw 52 is tightened down further. Holder 10 is now assembled on table 14 of machine 16.

A conventional shank button presser foot 20 is attached to that part of machine 16 designated button clamp bracket (not shown) as by existing screws (not shown). After adjusting the shank button presser foot 20 vertically and horizontally, tighten two screws (not shown) that hold the button clamp bracket.

Once holder 10 is properly adjusted on table 14 of machine 16, a button 12 may be placed in recess 26. A material 30, which may be any suitable fabric and the like, is then arranged between holder 10 and needle 18 as is shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The button 12 may now be sewed to material 30 by actuating machine 16 and needle 18. The actual sewing is done in the conventional manner, and is not described in detail herein.

As can be readily understood from the above description, the button 12 is under the material 30 where machine operators are not tempted to press same with their fingers. Presser foot 20 is arranged to press material 30 against body member 22 in a conventional manner to hold material 30 in proper position with respect to needle 18 and button 12.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A holder for articles to be attached to a material, comprising, a body member having walls defining recess means in a portion of the body member for receiving an article cooperating with a sewing needle for attaching the article to a material arranged between the recess means and sewing needle, a groove being provided in a portion of said body member different from the portion of the recess means, and further including a block member slidably arranged in said groove, and a holding member provided with a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel arms, spaced from one another a distance sufficient to slidably receive therebetween a portion of the block member extending from said groove.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the holding member has a connecting portion connected to said arms and extending transversely to a plane of these arms, said connecting portion forming an adjustable wall for said recess means.

3. A structure defined in claim 1, further including means for selectively retaining the body member in a predetermined position with respect to the block member.

4. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said recess means is partially formed by an article retaining member arranged in a plane perpendicular to the plane of a longitudinal extent of the sewing needle during the needles cooperation with the recess means.

5. A method for attaching articles to a material, comprising the steps of:

a. placing an article in a recess provided in an article holder;

b. arranging the recess adjacent a needle;

c. arranging material between the recess and needle;

and

d. sewing the article to the material by means of the needle.

6. A methoid as set out in claim 5, wherein the step of placing includes the step of positioning a shank button in the recess.

7. A method as set out in claim 5, further including the step of pressing a portion of the material against the article holder.

8L'A method as set out in claim 7, wherein the step of placing includes the step of positioning a shank button in the recess.

9. A holder for articles to be attached to a material, comprising, in combination:

a. a body member provided with an article receiving recess and a groove;

b. a block member slidably arranged in the groove;

c. a holding member provided with means for slidably receiving a portion of the block member extending from the groove.

10. A structure as defined in claim 9, wherein the recess is in a portion of the body member arrangeable for receiving an article cooperating with a sewing needle for attaching the article to a material arrangeable between the recess and sewing needle, and the groove is arranged in a portion of the body member different from the portion of the recess and spaced from the material and sewing needle. 

1. A holder for articles to be attached to a material, comprising, a body member having walls defining recess means in a portion of the body member for receiving an article cooperating with a sewing needle for attaching the article to a material arranged between the recess means and sewing needle, a groove being provided in a portion of said body member different from the portion of the recess means, and further including a block member slidably arranged in said groove, and a holding member provided with a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel arms, spaced from one another a distance sufficient to slidably receive therebetween a portion of the block member extending from said groove.
 2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the holding member has a connecting portion connected to said arms and extending transversely to a plane of these arms, said connecting portion forming an adjustable wall for said recess means.
 3. A structure defined in claim 1, further including means for selectively retaining the body member in a predetermined position with respect to the block member.
 4. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said recess means is partially formed by an article retaining member arranged in a plane perpendicular to the plane of a longitudinal extent of the sewing needle during the needle''s cooperation with the recess means.
 5. A method for attaching articles to a material, comprising the steps of: a. placing an article in a recess provided in an article holder; b. arranging the recess adjacent a needle; c. arranging material between the recess and needle; and d. sewing the article to the material by means of the needle.
 6. A methoid as set out in claim 5, wherein the step of placing includes the step of positioning a shank button in the recess.
 7. A method as set out in claim 5, further including the step of pressing a portion of the material against the article holder.
 8. A method as set out in claim 7, wherein the step of placing includes the step of positioning a shank button in the recess.
 9. A holder for articles to be attached to a material, comprising, in combination: a. a body member provided with an article receiving recess and a groove; b. a block member slidably arranged in the groove; c. a holding member provided with means for slidably receiving a portion of the block member extending from the groove.
 10. A structure as defined in claim 9, wherein the recess is in a portion of the body member arrangeable for receiving an article cooperating with a sewing needle for attaching the article to a material arrangeable between the recess and sewing needle, and the groove is arranged in a portion of the body member different from the portion of the recess and spaced from the material and sewing needle. 